Sheet metal shaping machine



Dec. 13,1960 w. KuNi 2,964,089

SHEET METAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 14444 rm l/uA/z Dec. 13, 1960 w. KUNZ 2,964,089

SHEET METAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 5b 9 9 /0 5 A; l {0 r/ l /5 u I r1 IIIIIIIIII'IIII lam-117mm INVENTOR 14 64 75R Amvz Dec. 13, 1960 w. KUNZ SHEET METAL SHAPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 17, 1958 INVENTOR linited rates fiatent 2,964,089 SHEET METAL SHAPING MACHINE Walter Kunz, Hartmutstrasse l, Kronberg, Taunus, Germany Filed June 17, 1958, Ser. No. 742,549

Claims priority, application Germany June 19, 1957 Claims. (Cl. 153-54) The invention relates in general to sheet metal shaping machines and more particularly to a machine for shaping or curving flat or plane pieces or blanks of sheet-metals in several spatial directions, or for additionally curving preshaped blanks of sheetmetal into shapes having additional curvatures in one or several spatial directions.

Curved or arched shapes of sheetmetal are used in many branches of industry, e.g. in the production of end or bottom plates for boilers, fenders, propeller blades, heating fan wheels and in many other industries.

For shaping these sheet metal plates into curved or cup shapes several methods are used. For instance, in one known method, the sheet metal plates are deep drawn through pressing tools. Deep drawing processes are, however, very costly since they require expensive tools and are therefore only used when mass production of a particular shape of metal plate is contemplated.

According to another method, the work piece i.e. the sheet metal blank is shaped or flanged by manually or mechanically hammering the sheet metal into the desired shape. This latter process has the disadvantage that the shaping of the metal is accompanied by considerable noise which tends to disturb and imitate the operator and his fellow workers. The noise may even cause permanent hearing disturbances. Furthermore, irregularities may occur on the finished surface of the shaped plate which is manually moved below the shaping hammer which latter with each blow strikes the metal only at one given point. The sheet metal may thus be improperly shifted between successive blows.

It is also known in the art to produce uniformly extending rims, beads or corrugations on sheet metal plates by means of profile mill rollers. The use of such rollers is, however, limited to a relatively narrow area or strip of the sheet, for example to a uniformly extending rim of the sheet to be formed or to a narrow corrugation region. In employing such rollers, the cooperating working surfaces of a pair of profile rollers bear simultaneously against the entire area, or at least the major portion thereof, of the sheet region to be shaped, while the sheet proper passes between the rollers.

It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages of the known devices.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shaping machine that can economically accomplish the shaping and curving of a sheet metal blank in several spatial directions, on a production basis in which a relatively small number of production pieces only is contemplated, so that the use of deep drawing tools would be uneconomical.

In accordance with the invention, the rim portion of the blank of sheet metal to be shaped is clamped or otherwise secured in a holding arrangement by means of grippers, whereafter the blank is jointly rotated with the holding arrangement. If a circular blank is to be shaped, for example if a plane circular blank is to be formed into a semi-spherical dish, the holding arrangement will be caused to perform a rotational movement about a center conforming to the course or rim of the blank. If the blank has an unevenly extending rim, a guiding template is provided for the holding arrangement in such a manner that the holding arrangement dur ingits rot'ation will follow and conform to the course of the blank edge. For example, if a rectangular blank is used having rounded-01f corners, the holding arrangement will first move in one longitudinal direction and then in that longitudinal direction that is perpendicular thereto.

In accordance with the invention a rotatably mounted profile roller is used for the shaping of the blank. This profile roller engages the blank at one of its surfaces and cooperates with a counter tool which is capable of being urged towards the opposite blank surface in the direction towards the profile roller, so that the blank is taken up between the profile roller and the counter tool and is thus worked upon. In contrast to the known profile rollers hitherto used in the production of corrugations or flanged rims, whose profile corresponds to the entire or to practically the entire region of the blank to be shaped and which has to be guided across the entire area of the blank, the working surface of the inventive profile roller engages but a small fraction of the surface to be shaped. Further, the rotational plane of the profile roller is slightly inclinedly adjustable relative to the rotational direction of the blank, so that, for example, with a circular blank rotation about a center axis of the holding arrangement, the rotational plane of the profile roller does not extend tangentially to this circular path but extends somewhat inclinedly thereto. This inclined and preferably adjustable positioning of the rotational plane of the profile roller results in the fact that it attempts to move away from the rotational direction. In other words, it attempts to move or shift the blank in relation to the rotational plane of the roller. This tendency is taken into account in accordance with the invention thereby that the holding arrange ment for the blank is movably guided relative to the rotational plane of the profile roller at least in one direction along a plane (displacement plane) which is perpendicular to this rotational plane. yields to the displacement tendency of the profile roller so that this roller performs a spiral-like movement across the blank surface to be worked upon, while the individual spiral turns corresponding to the slight inclination of the rotational plane of the profile roller to the tangential plane of the rotational direction of the blank, are located closely next to each other. In the event that the holding arrangement and the blank perform a circular path, the profile roller performs above the blank from the outside towards the inside or from the inside;

towards the outside, likewise depends on the rotational direction. The course or progress of the spiral may, of course, be reversed by reversing the rotational direction, be it the rotation of the profile roller or that of.

the holding arrangement.

The novelty of the invention resides essentially in the U mentioned generation of this spiral-like or spiral-shaped; movement of the profile roller across the blank'surface".: In this manner the blank is shaped to the desired configuration by means of the roller profile and the adjust- Consequently, it

ment of the roller axis as well as by the provision of the counter tool. This shaping progresses point'by point along the mentioned spiral-shaped path across the blank surface in similar manner as with the known hammer tools previously described. In the same manner as in hammer shaping, upon progressing engagement of the profile roller a shaping is accomplished that progresses point by point with only slight and insignificant stretching and expansion of the respective blank region. large amount ,of stretching is generally undesired during the shaping of sheet metal and is largely prevented by the inventive holding of the blank The clamping of the blank rim by means of the grippers further prevents the formation of folds, creases, or wave formations during the shaping, as might possibly occur during shaping of the blank without clamping. The gripper arrangement thus takes over thepurpose of the annular holders of deep drawing presses.

The curvature orarching obtained by the shaping in accordance with this invention or the magnification of a preshaped arching, makes it necessary that the movement of the blank holding arrangement conforms to the shaping of the blank, in other words, that it adapts itself to the position of the blank in conformity with the shaping thereof, when-the profile roller axis is mounted in the machine frame in non-rockable manner. In the reverse, the axis of the profile roller must describe a movement conforming to the blank shaping in the event that the rotational plane of the holding arrangement is stationary. In accordance with this invention, the blank holding arrangement is consequently freely rockable or swivable from its displacement or shifting plane relative to the turning axis of the profile roller about one or several swivel or pivot axes, so that the holding arrangement may follow the blank shaping.

In this manner it is rendered unnecessary to exert a pressure with the profile roller or with the counter tool in the direction of the blank-shaping. This shaping is rather obtained by itself in accordance and in conformity with the adjustment and position of the roller axis and of the roller profile.

If it is desired to produce arched sheet metal plate surfaces in several spatial directions, the working surface of at least the profile roller or of the counter tool has to have a corresponding arching. In accordance with a preferred embodiment both working surfaces are complementary in their profile relative to each other. If the surface to be shaped is curved or arched in one direction only, for example if it is a conical surface, then the profile roller as well as the counter tool may have a cylindrical or conical surface. The expression profile roller as used in this context is thus deemed to signify merely that the working surface of the roller is adapted to the sheet metal profile to be produced, while the radius of the curvature of the profile roller or of the counter tool need not necessarily be the same as that of the arching or curvature to be produced. It is absolutely possible that this curvature radiusmay'be greater or smaller than that of the arching. The desired correct profile course or development on the blank may then gradually be generated by a repeated, spiral-like movement of the profile roller across the blank surface and by providing a measuring or selector template which is me shaped corresponding to the desired profile course.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the counter tool is constituted by a rotatably mounted further profile roller the profile of the working surface of which corresponds to the particulars given above. This further profile roller or counter tool may also be driven. This counter tool is capable of being urged or pressed in the direction towards the other profile roller on the other surface of the blank. The working surface of this counter tool likewise contacts or engages only a fraction of the blank surface to be formed. means that the counter tool alsohdescribes during the ,4 rotation of the holding arrangement of a spiral-like path. In accordance with a modification of the invention, the counter tool may instead beconstituted by a rotatably mounted support. This support may, of course, be caused to rotate in any desired manner. This counter tool or support extends over the entire blank area or region to be shaped. It forms a support for the blank and is so capable of being urged or pressed in the direction towards the profile roller against the blank. During rotation this counter tool is operatively connected with the blank holding arrangement. During the spiral-like movement of the profile roller engaging the other side of the blank, the blank is then shaped point by point according -to the surface configuration of the counter tool.

The blank holding arrangement may comprise a ring or annular member which carries the gripper means. This ring is rotatably mounted or may be rotated in any desired manner. The plane of this ring is rockably mounted on an overhang arm or beam. The overhang arm in turn is swingably mounted on the machine frame. The overhang arm is freely and reciprocably movable in the longitudinal direction in this plane relative to the rotational plane of the profile roller or rollers, for example it may be slidable to and fro in a slide guide which latter is longitudinally slidable on the machine frame. The turning axis or axes of the profile roller are mounted in the stationary machine frame, while the pivot axis of the overhang arm may bemounted on the slide.

In order to prevent expansion of the blank during the shaping, or at least to reduce such expansion to a minimum, the gripper means are advantageously yieldingly mounted on the holding arrangement so that they may move to some extent perpendicular to the rim of the.

blank which latter is held by the gripping arrangement. This movement corresponds to the yielding of a blank rim under the annular ring or holder in a deep drawing press. If it is desired that the blank rim should constantly follow the remaining course of the arching of the shaped blank, i.e. that it should not be edged over, the gripper devices are swingably mounted on the holding arrangement, so that they may adjust themselves perpendicular to the plane of the blank rims gripped thereby. However, since they are not swingable in this plane, they serve also the purpose of an annular ring or holder of a deep drawing device, that is they prevent the formation of corrugations and folds during the shaping.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the inventive machine have been shown by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates, partly in section, a side view of a first embodiment of the inventive shaping machine;

Fig. 2 shows, partly in section, an end view of the supporting or holding arrangement according to the embodiment of Fig. l, the holding arrangement being adapted for a circular path of rotation;

Fig. 3 is a top view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a circular sheet metal blank in order to illustrate the path of the profile roller during the shaping procedure;

Fig. 5 shows a section of the blank of Fig. 4 after the shaping procedure;

Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of a holding arrangement, partly in section, the figure corresponding to the end view shown in Fig. 2, the holding arrangement, however, being adapted to a non-circular path of rotation;

Fig. 7 shows, partly in section, a top view of the holding arrangement and its guide, the profile roller being located above the center of one of the edges of a substantially rectangular guide path;

Fig. 8 shows, partly in section, a top view which substantiallycorrespondsto the one shown in Fig. 7, the profile roller, however, being located in the left hand rear corner of the rectangular guide path;

Fig. 9 illustrates, partly in section, a top view which substantially corresponds to Fig. 7, the profile roller, however, being located above the left hand edge of the rectangular guide path;

Fig. is a top view of a rectangular sheet metal blank as it is being shaped in a holding arrangement according to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 through 9, for the illustration of the working path of the profile roller, and

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the counter tool engaging beneath the profile roller, this embodiment being somewhat changed as compared to Figs. 1 through 3.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine comprises an overhang beam 1, in which there is rotatably mounted a shaft 2, which shaft 2 carries at its free end a profile roller 3. The machine frame proper with the exception of the overhang beam 1 has not been shown. The working surface 4 of the profile roller 3 touches or contacts only a very small fraction of the surface of the sheet metal blank 5 to be shaped. It will be seen that this working surface 4 of the profile roller in the embodiment here shown, touches or engages the sheet metal surface near its upper edge. In the present embodiment a plane sheet metal blank 5 may, for example, be shaped into a spherically or cup-shaped dish for use as a boiler end plate. For this purpose, the working surface 4 of the profile roller 3 is hollowed out inwardly in concave manner.

Fig. 2 shows the sheet metal blank 5 prior to being subjected to the shaping procedure. In other words, it is still plane. The sheet metal blank is held or clamped in a holding arrangement generally indicated by reference numeral '6. The main portion of this holding arrangement 6 consists of a circular ring 7 which is rotatably mounted at a bearing or mounting element 8 by means of ball bearings. On the top side of the ring 7 tonguelike gripper elements 9 are provided which engage the rim portion of the circular sheet metal blank 5. The grippers 9 are uniformly distributed around the entire circumference of the ring 7 and thus engage the rim of the circular blank 5 at equal and predetermined distances. The clamping devices 9a which are required for the purpose in question are of known construction and have for this reason not been shown in detail. It will be realized, of course, that the pincers-like grippers 9 may be replaced by different gripping or clamping devices which securely hold the rim portion of the blank by clamping, screwing or the like.

The grippers are carried by shafts 10 which latter are mounted in holding blocks or lugs 11. These shafts 10 are mounted so as to be movable in longitudinal direction, i.e. in a direction to and fro the center of the ring. The elements or blocks 11, as shown in Fig. 2 are rockable relative to the ring 7, so that the grippers may move upwardly in conformity with the shaping, i.e. the outward arching of the blank, by a corresponding rocking movement. At the same time the grippers are capable to move perpendicular relative to the rim of the blanks by means of their shafts 10.

The bearing element 8 for the ring 7 is welded to holding pieces 12 which latter are provided with bores 13 for pivot pins 14. Each bore 13 receives a pin 14. The pivot pins project inwardly from forked arms 15 and thus form a pivot bearing for the holding arrangement 6. This pivot bearing renders it possible for the holding arrangement in its entirety to rock or swing from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 1 as it is conditioned by the shaping of blank 5 which latter bears against the profile roller 3.

An electric driving motor 16 is provided at one of the holding pieces 12 or at the mounting element 8. The motor causes the rotation of the ring 7 by means of drive means, for example by a V-belt drive 17. The

weight of the motor is compensated for by means of a counterweight 31 arranged on the opposite holding piece 12. The forked arms 15 form a support arm which is mounted on a cross member 18 at 19 so as to be rockable up and down (Fig. 1). jection or lug 20 which forms a pivot bearing for a pivot pin 22 which latter projects downwardly from a sliding carriage 21. The sliding carriage 21 is mounted so as to be slidable to and fro in direction of the arrows, that is in the longitudinal direction of the overhang beam 1. This is accomplished by means of rollers 23 arranged on guide rails 24. The guide rails 24 are provided on both sides of the overhang beam 1, one of which can be seen in Fig. 1.

A counter Weight 25 is arranged at the rear end of the arm 15. This counter weight 25 compensates for the weight of the holding arrangement 6. It may also be somewhat heavier or lighter than the holding arrangement 6, or it may be adjustable on the arm 15. The rockable or pivotable mounting at 19 is necessary in addition to the rockable mounting at 14 in order that the holding arrangement 6 may also follow or move in upward direction in conformity with the shaping of the blank by the profile roller 3. The pivot bearing 20, 22 serves the purpose to position the plane of rotation of the profile roller 3 in somewhat inclined manner relative to the tangent at the circumference of the blank as shown in Fig. 4. The small engagement angle or angle of attack which has been chosen may be fixed by means of a suitable securing device which has not been shown. This small angle results in the fact that the profile roller of Fig. 4 performs a spiral-like movement in narrow turns from the outer rim of the blank 5 towards the inside or from its center towards the outside, dependent on the turning direction of the ring 7 of the holding device 6. This spirallike movement is made possible thereby that the holding arrangement 6 jointly with its arm 15 may move freely in longitudinal direction along the guide rails 24 of the overhang beam 1.

So as to accomplish the shaping of the blank 5 by means of this spiral-like movement of the profile roller 3, a counter tool is required which bears against the other i.e. lower surface of the blank at least in the region opposite of the profile roller 3. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 4 this counter tool consists of a profile roller 26 which roller is rotatably mounted in a stand or support 27 (Fig. 2). This stand in its turn is adjustably mounted in the vertical direction, that is it is adjustable as to its relative height. It may be fixed in any position and is mounted in the bottom part of the stationary machine frame in the rotational plane of the profile roller 3. The elements for securing and mounting the stand 27 and the machine frame proper have not been shown. The working surface 27 of the profile roller 26 is arched in the present embodiment in convex manner and engages but a small fraction of the lower blank surface. The curvature of the counter roller corresponds to the curvature of the working surface 4 of the profile roller 3. In the working position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rollers are pressed towards each other in such a manner that they take up between them the blank to be shaped. Upon rotation of the blank 5 its shaping consequently occurs in conformity with the progress of the spiral of Figure 4 until the desired hollow shape shown in Figure 5 has been obtained. In the present case this is a spherical or cup-shaped dish.

Figure 11 shows a modified embodiment of the counter tool which in this embodiment consists of a shaping block 26a which, for example, may be made of wood. This block is displaceably mounted not in the machine frame but on the holding arrangement 6. The mounting is effected in such a manner that the block may be pressed; against the lower surface of the blank in the direction towards the Working surface of the profile roller 30 when the top surface of the blank is acted upon by the profile The cross member has a pro-.

roller 3a according to Figures 1 through 4. It will be noted that the working surface of the profile roller 3a in this embodiment is cambered. For the proper functioning of the block 26a the latter may be connected by turning with the holding arrangement 6 so that the block during the shaping of the blank 5a forms a support for the blank, the support determining the configuration of the blank shaping. The inclination of the profile roller 3a shown in Figure 11 relative to the block 26a may be obtained either by the rocking bearings 14 and/ or 19 or by correspondingly rockably mounting the overhang beam 1.

Figures 6 through illustrate a modified embodiment for the situation wherein not a round but a rectangular blank 5b having rounded corners is to be shaped and curved. According to Figure 6, the blank 512, similar as shown in Figure 2, is clamped at its rim in a ring 7b by means of grippers 9 in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 through 3, the ring 7b is mounted rockably and rotatably and is driven by the electro-motor 16b. The ring, however, is not round but rectangular. The ring 7b cannot possibly perform a circular rotational movement because by means of a pin 28 it engages in a rectangular groove or slot 29 which latter forms part of a stationary template guide 30 provided in the lower portion of the machine frame. This guide 30 causes that the ring 7b performs a rectangular movement with rounded corners. This rectangular movement is rendered possible thereby that arm which carries the holding arrangement 6 with the ring 7b is freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the overhang beam 1 along the slide guide 21, 23 and 24. Upon movement or displacement along a straight blank edge, the plane of rotation of the profile roller 3 is inclined at a small angle relative to the direction of the blank edge. Consequently, the profile roller 3 performs on the blank surface a spiral-like path, as shown in Figure 4, i.e. from the outside towards the inside or from the inside towards the outsile, dependent on the direction of movement of the ring 7b. Upon tra versing this path a corresponding curving of the blank 5b in both directions is accomplished.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show various positions of the profile roller 3 in its path parallel to one of the blank edges during movement around a corner and during movement parallel to the following blank edge.

As can be seen, sheet metal plates or blanks of any desired outline may thus be shaped, i.e. may be curved or arched in one or several spatial directions depending on the form of the profile groove (29) of the profile template. Of course, a different guiding arrangement for the rotational path of the blank may be chosen. However, care has to be taken in all instances that the profile roller, as shown in Figure 10, is supplied substantially parallel to the edges of the blank and in the course of a spiral shaped path gradually passes over the entire surface of the blank. In doing so, the roller cooperates as shown in Figures 1 to 3 with a second profile roller 26 or counter tool provided on the bottom surface of the blank or with a through-going counter tool (26a), as shown in Figure 11, which latter counter tool forms a support for the lower surface of the blank.

.In the embodiment shown there is also provided a drive, which may be manually actuated, for the rotation of the holding arrangement only while the profile roller or rollers may freely rotate. Instead or in addition it would be feasible to provide a rotational drive for the profile roller or rollers. This, however, is less desirable because in the latter case, during the position of the profile roller in the vicinity of the center of the blank, undesirable, large centrifugal forces might occur in the rim region of the blank.

'It will also be realized that the blank need not be plane as shown in Figure 2, but may be preshaped with a curvature in one or several spatial directions. Upon subjecting such a preshaped blank to the inventive shaping, the .previous curvature may be increased or modified or may be completed in a different spatial direction. In this manner, it is possible to produce shapings of the most varying kind dependent on the purpose in question. Thus it is possible to shape fenders from suitable blanks. It is also feasible to shape sheet metal rings into funnel-like forms as may be required in the production of fan wheels. For this purpose, the starting blank should have a corresponding center bore. cross-sectional extension of such a sheet metal ring is not curved but conical, a profile roller having a cylindrical working surface and a corresponding counter roller may be used.

It will also be realized that the inventive machine may be used for imparting to a shaped blank a projecting fiangeor bent over rim, provided that a suitably designed and movable roller pair is employed. For this purpose, the blank will, of course, not be clamped at the rim portion, but in the center of the blank while the rotation will be accomplished by means of the clamping.

It should also be pointed out that the inventive machine may be constructed as self contained independent arrangement or machine. However, it is also possible to construct it as an additional or supplemental arrangement to a universal fianging or shaping machine of known design.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape and proportion as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Arrangement for the shaping of plane or prearched sheet metal plates in at least one spatial direction by rollers, which comprises in combination a holding arrangement including gripper means arranged thereon for securely holding the rim portion of a sheet metal blank to be shaped, a rotatably mounted profile roller, said profile roller having a working surface shaped in a predetermined manner in conformity with the shape of the blank to be produced, said working surface being capable of engaging a small fraction of one of the surfaces of said blank, a counter tool cooperating with said profile roller, said counter tool having a working surface capable of bearing against the opposite surface of said blank, driving means for rotating at least one of said blank and said holding arrangement on the one hand and said profile roller on the other hand about their respective axes, means for inclining said profile roller relative to the rim of the blank, means for permitting movement of said holding arrangement relative to the rotational plane of the profile roller in at least one direction along a vertical plane perpendicular to said rotational plane, said holding means also being swingable and pivotable relative to the turning axis of the profiie roller so that said profile roller in conformtiy with its inclination relative to the blank and dependent on the rotational direction of the holding arrangement and of the profile roller describes a spiral-like path across the surface of said blank for shaping the same.

2. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 1, said hold ing arrangement comprising a rotatable ring, said gripper means being mounted in said ring, and said ring being swingably mounted relative to the frame of the arrangement.

3. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 2, said mounting means comprising arm means and means for permitting reciprocal sliding movement of said arm means in the plane of said ring relative to the rotational plane of the profile roller.

4. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 1, means for yieldingly mounting said gripper means on said holding arrangement for permitting movement of said gripper =means perpendicular relative to the blank rim.

If the 5. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 1, means for swingably mounting said gripper means on said holding arrangement, said mounting being perpendicular to the plane of the blank rim.

6. Arrangement for the shaping of plane or prcarched sheet metal plates in at least one spatial direction by rollers, which comprises in combination a holding arrangement including gripper means arranged thereon for securely holding the rim portion of a sheet metal blank to be shaped, a rotatably mounted profile roller, said profile roller having a working surface shaped in a predetermined manner in conformity with the shape of the blank to be produced, said working surface being capable of engaging a small fraction of one of the surfaces of said blank, a counter tool cooperating with said profile roller, said counter tool having a working surface capable of beating against the opposite surface of said blank, driving means for rotating at least one of said blank and said holding arrangement on the one hand and said profile roller on the other hand about their respective axes, means for permitting movement of said holding arrangement relative to the rotational plane of the profile roller in at least one direction along a vertical plane perpendicular to said rotational plane, said holding means also being swingable and pivotable relative to the turning axis of the profile roller so that said profile roller in conformity with its inclination relative to the blank and dependent on the rotational direction of the holding arrangement and of the profile roller describes a spiral-like path across the surface of said blank for shaping the same.

7. In an arrangement for the shaping of plane or prearched metal plates in at least one spatial direction by rollers, wherein the plate to be shaped is held by a holding arrangement and wherein a roller means rotatably mounted on carrier means engages a small fraction of one of the surfaces of the plate to be shaped while a counter tool engages the opposite surface of the plate at least in the region Where said roller means contacts the plate and wherein, further, said roller means is movable in radial direction relative to its rotational plane during simultaneous inclination of its axis of rotation to perform a spiral-like movement across the worked-upon surface of the plate, the improvement which comprises gripper means on said holding arrangement for holding the rim portion of the plate and means for permitting free and unguided tilting and pivotal movement of said holding arrangement including the gripper means relative to the rotational plane of said roller means and about at least one axis articulating said holding arrangement, said roller means and said carrier means so that the roller means itself in its cooperation with the counter tool determines the extent of the tilting and pivotal movement of said holding arrangement and thus of the shaping of the plate.

8. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 6, said holding arrangement being tiltable and pivotable about first joint means, said first joint means being mounted on arm means, said arm means in turn being pivotable about second joint means mounted on the carrier of said roller means, and counter weight means for at least partially relieving said arm means from the forces caused by said holding arrangement and the plate to be shaped.

9. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 6, said carrier means and said holding arrangement being freely movable relative to each other Without requiring positive driving or advancing means whereby said roller means may freely perform its radial movement across the plate surface and the spiral-like path of the roller means is determined by from the tangential direction deviating adjustment of its rotational plane in relation to the rotational plane of the holding arrangement.

10. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein both said roller means and said counter tool are freely movable relative to said holding arrangement Without requiring positive driving or advancing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No 296L089 December l8 1960 Walter Kunz It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 10, lines 14, 22 and 31, for the claim reference numeral "6" each occurrence read 7 =0 Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1961.

( SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

